Winter Sports Recommendations

If we missed your accomplishments, call the Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Section at 617-732-2603 and ask for Child Life, or e-mail childlife@joslin.harvard.edu

Fall 2012

Hannah Winiker- chose to receive items such as toys, markers, and games to donate to the Pediatric Playroom at Joslin instead of receiving gifts at her Bat Mitzvah. She brought in three big bags for the donation. Since being diagnosed at the age of 9, Hannah has wanted to educate people about diabetes. She is currently working on her 8th grade Capstone Project, which is a community service project. Hannah’s project focuses on promoting diabetes awareness within the community and teaching people about diabetes who are not familiar with the condition.

The Ashland Women's Group- gave a big donation of items to the playroom this past summer. One of the women wanted to pick an organization in honor of her husband who has type 1 diabetes. He has been a patient at Joslin for many years and they wanted to give back to the place that has provided him such great care.

Caleb Mahoney- was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 6. Just a few months after that, his parents signed him up for Tae-Kwon-Do. Knowing the importance of exercise in the life of a person with diabetes, they wanted to choose a sport or activity that was year-round and was not subject to season or weather. It was a perfect fit. This past December 2011 at the age of 12, Caleb earned his black belt. This upcoming fall Caleb will be testing for his second degree black belt. Seeing the benefits for Caleb, the entire family decided to take Tae-Kwon-Do. By doing it together, they share their frustrations, successes, set-backs, and advancements, supporting each other as they each received a black belt. Says mom, “Making Tae-Kwon-Do a part of our family's routine has not only supported Caleb's needs to maintain a healthy exercise routine in his life, it has served to do the same for all of us.”

Surya Narayanan-Pandit- has been dancing since she was six years old. Being diagnosed at the age of eight, Surya, has continued her passion in dance. This September, Surya performed an Arangetram, an Indian classical dance, which is the first public solo performance after a dancer has completed the highest level of classes. The performance has to be two hours long and contains about eight different dances. After this performance, Surya is now able to be a teacher to younger students.

Summer 2012

Holly Szafran(age 17)– Holly helped her soccer team make it to the Quarterfinals of the State Tournament after being the 7th seed in MIAA North region. During the regular season, Holly scored 20 goals and had 15 assists. Holly was voted the 5th best player in the Bay Sate Conference and was a Bay State Conference All-Star player. She is attending Brandeis in the fall where she will continue her soccer career. Gabriella Sajedi(age 10)– This year, Gabriella competed in solo, team, and figure synchronized swimming competitions across the Northeast, winning 1st or 2nd place each time in her 10&under age group. This year, she swam her solo to Miley Cyrus's song "The Climb." She chose this song because of its inspirational message as it relates to Type 1 Diabetes. Gabriella dreams to one day swim on the US Olympic Synchronized Swim Team. Edward Richardson(age 18)– Has been the Co-Chair and Chair of the New England ADA Youth Leader Group, Speaker at the 2011 Boston Step Out Walk Kick-Off Rally, and a member of the Step Out Walk Committee for 2011 and 2012. Eddie also spoke at the 2012 Boston Step Out Walk Corporate Breakfast, and he will be a representative at the 2012 ADA New England Volunteer Leadership Conference.

McKenna Shedd(age 11)– Held a walk at her school last November to raise money for the JDRF to find a cure. At the end of the walk, everyone gathered in the gymnasium where McKenna and a classmate each gave a speech about how having diabetes has changed their lives. Brandon Baker(age 25)– Has had type 1 Diabetes for 13 years. On May 6th, Brandon ran the 13 mile Seven Sisters Trail Race in Northampton, MA where he finished #11 out of 306 runners; time was 2:07:56. A few weeks later, Brandon completed a 50 mile Ultramarathon. Go Brandon! Kevin Schwalm(age 14)– Kevin’s club soccer team won the state finals for the U14 year old boys division on Sunday June 2, 2012. At the end of June, Kevin and his team traveled to Pennsylvania to compete in the regionals.

Thomas Kelley(age 16)– Participated in the 12th Annual Foxborough Against Diabetes 5k. The annual race has raised $238,300 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Thomas finished fourth over all, but came in 3rd in his age group. Thomas was the first person diagnosed with type 1 diabetes to finish the race.

Spring 2012

Adriana Dennis and her cheerleading squad, the Natick A-team, won 4th in the country at Nationals in Orlando, FL back in December. They were recognized at the State House by Natick representative, David Linsky.

The Cape Cod Charity Lunch Bunch gathers every month to pick a charity for donations. This past February, Claire Cahill, a member of the Bunch, suggested the playroom at Joslin. She says Joslin’s playroom helps her granddaughter, Anna Prokop, to have a positive outlook on diabetes. The playroom at Joslin was fortunate to receive $300 from this group.

Caroline Carter placed in the Top 10 in the Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen pageant, a part of the Miss America Organization. Her platform is Diabetes Awareness. She hopes to spread her story and spread the message that diabetes does not hold you back. Caroline also loves to sing, play basketball and field hockey, and volunteers to work with children in her hometown of Dover, NH who have diabetes.

Anthony Melchionda is the senior baseball captain at Boston College. Every year, the Boston College Baseball Team gets the chance to play against the Boston Red Sox at spring training. Anthony attributes his success with diabetes to his parents, doctors, and nurses at the Joslin Diabetes Center, who he says have taught him that he can do anything, regardless of having this disease. “I learned to check my blood sugar often, and monitor the insulin requirements with my activity levels and food intake. I have had a positive attitude that helps me to be successful with my diabetes. I have learned that I am more successful as a baseball player and a student when my blood sugars are in the normal range.”